Hoarding cleanup in Tampa Bay.
Hoarding cleanup is not like any other kind of junk removal. The house is often hazardous, the person is often still living there, the family is often at their breaking point, and nothing about it is simple. If you're reading this, you or someone you love is in a hard spot. What follows is what we've learned from helping Tampa Bay families through it.
First: this is a mental-health issue, not a mess
Hoarding Disorder was recognized as a distinct mental illness by the DSM-5 in 2013. Cleaning the house without addressing the underlying disorder almost always results in the house refilling within 6-18 months. If the person is still living in the home and still struggling with the disorder, please involve a therapist who specializes in hoarding before the cleanup — ideally through the Tampa Bay chapter of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with hoarding experience.
We are not therapists. We're the haul crew. But we will not pressure someone who isn't ready, and we will not force-remove items a person is distressed about.
How we approach hoarding cleanups in Tampa
- Walkthrough with the family (and the hoarder, if they want to be there). No pressure, no judgment. We quote a realistic scope.
- Pace that matches the person. Some families want a 2-day blitz. Others want 4-week phased work with the therapist involved. Both are fine.
- Three-pile method, modified for hoarding: Keep / Maybe / Haul. Nothing goes in the "Haul" pile without the family's explicit approval, item by item if needed.
- Biohazard protection. PPE, respirators, disposable suits for severe cases. We'll flag if a professional biohazard cleanup company is needed before we can proceed.
- Discretion. Unmarked truck for sensitive jobs. We arrive and leave quietly. No signage on the property.
What we find (and how we handle it)
Over hundreds of Tampa Bay hoarding cleanups, common finds include:
- Important documents buried in mail piles — we set these aside for the family.
- Cash — sometimes significant amounts, often forgotten. We find, document, and hand to the family.
- Jewelry and valuables — flagged, photographed, handed over.
- Pets — alive or deceased. We stop work and call the family before any animal-related decision.
- Biohazards — human waste, dead animals, mold, needles. We stop, PPE up, and may pause to bring in a partner biohazard firm.
- Firearms and ammunition — secured and handed to the family; we don't dispose of these.
What we DON'T do (and when to call someone else)
- Biohazard remediation (mold, blood, human/animal waste requiring sanitization) — we flag and partner with Tampa biohazard specialists like ServPro or PuroClean for this stage.
- Structural repairs — flooring damaged by water, mold-infested drywall — that's a Tampa restoration contractor.
- Pest extermination — if rodents or cockroach infestations are severe, an exterminator needs to go first.
- Psychological support — the person needs a therapist, not a haul crew. We'll give you resources.
Tampa-area resources
- Crisis Center of Tampa Bay — 813-964-1964 — general mental health support
- 211 Tampa Bay — dial 211 — resource referrals including hoarding-specific therapists
- Children of Hoarders (national) — https://childrenofhoarders.com — support for adult children of hoarding parents
- International OCD Foundation — hoardingcenter.org — includes directory of hoarding-specialist therapists in Tampa
FAQ
If you're dealing with a Tampa Bay hoarding situation — for yourself or a loved one — call us at 727-288-4847. No judgment, no pressure.